The Trauma Therapist I Shut Up And Listened with Ryan T. Reicher
Apr 6, 2026
Ryan T. Reichert, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, author and recovery advocate. He talks about his 23-year military life and the culture of drinking in the infantry. He shares the turning point that led him to AA and the daily work of sobriety. He reflects on rebuilding identity after loss, lean into discomfort, and how faith and vulnerability reshaped his purpose.
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A 33 Year Drinking Journey That Hid In Plain Sight
- Ryan began drinking at 12 and slid into a 33-year binge that escalated with an ACL injury and prescription drugs in adolescence.
- He says infantry culture ('work hard, play harder') normalized heavy drinking and it deepened during his transition out of service.
Transition Emptiness Fueled The Addiction
- Transitioning out of the military exposed Ryan's identity gap: civilian corporate roles didn't fill the purpose and structure the Army provided.
- That loss of role and meaning amplified fear, anxiety, and reliance on substances to cope.
The Adultery That Triggered Immediate Sobriety
- In late 2023 Ryan 'broke' morally: he committed physical adultery and was using Match.com while married, which precipitated immediate change.
- The day after, he attended his first AA meeting, began daily meetings for 90 days, and started honest recovery.
